This is Billy Cook. In 1909, he built this motorcycle to break the 87.2 mph speed record set by Henri Cissac 4 years previously. The behemoth is powered by a huge 165.62 c.i. (2714 c.c.) NLG (North London Garage) JAP engine originally intended for aircraft. Can't imagine what that engine would do to the light wooden aircraft fuselage of the day. Of course someone has built a replica, enjoy it here.
9 comments:
I like that conspiratorial smirk on his face. "Yeah, I know Dad told me not to do this but..."
Years ago some dude sliced two cylinders off a Rolls Royce Merlin and made a motorcycle out of them, 4500cc. If I remember correctly it was a one speed.:)
To my eye, Billy Cook's expression suggests that he is stealing the bike.
"Nyuk-nyuk, I'll push it silently out to the main road, bump start it, and be halfway to Hagerstown before the alarm is raised."
Manly and heroic, he is not. :-) The Merlin man is in Australia, and from the occasional picture that poss up on the net, it appears it's still running.
Not sure about the timing, but it seems Glenn Curtiss had this sewed up:
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/glenn-curtiss-motorcycle
And there's not even a faint chance I'd get on that thing.
But surely you realise we care little what happens in the Colonies (or ex-colonies), it only counts if it happens on British soil.
" it only counts if it happens on British soil."
[Tugs forelock, backs away...]
Great site, Mr. G!
rdguy
That reminds me of The Flying Millyard. If you're unfamiliar with the work of Allen Millyard take a look at his Youtube channel, The Flying Millyard, a 5 litre V twin motorcycle, is on there as his his Dodge Viper V10 motorcycle plus all sorts of other amazing machines. https://www.youtube.com/c/AllenMillyard/videos
Did Billy borrow the front brake and seat from a bicycle? LOL
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